Mole-trap



(No Model.)

W. s. HARMON.

MOLE TRAP. V

No. 254,963. Patented Mar. 14,1882.

\A/I IEE EE: RR ENTE I wa /g W. 1 \Q/ w y aw To all whom it may concern UNITED STATES WILLIAM S. HARMON, OF

MOLE- OWVENSVILLE, INDIANA.

TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,963, dated March 14, 1882.

Application filed January 9, 1882. (No modeh) Be it known that I, W1LLIAM S. HARMON, of Owensville, in the county of Gibson and State Indiana, have invented a new and useful Illl provement in Mole-Traps, of which the following is a specification, having reference to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to that class of moletraps which impale the mole in his burrow; and it has for its object to produce a trap that may be cheaply made and effective in its operation.

. My invention consistsin the construction and combination of the various parts, ashereinafter described.

The accompanying drawing represents a perspective view of my invention, in which a is apiece of stout plank, havingthe crossbar b secured near one end. Gross-bar b'is a narrow strip of wood having numerous sharp spikes or spears, c, driven into it. The rear end of a is provided with two short legs, 00, the object of which is to raise it slightly and to keep it from slipping backward when the trap is set. The end of the fall provided with the legs a c rests upon the ground, and the other end is supported above the burrow ofthe mole by the prop h 'i. Said propis composed of two pieces-h, having a mortise near its lower end, in which is pivoted the trigger it, and i, which has a shoulder, 0, which rests on the top of h. .The top end of h is slightly beveled, and the upper end ofi is beveled in the l opposite direction, as shown, so that when k and t are placed together upright under the end of a the corner of h engages t at the bottom or inner edge of the shoulder 0, While the load rests on the outer edge of i, the effect being to cause the prop to double together and fall. This is prevented when, the trap is set by the catch 0' on the trigger it, which catch hooks over the lower end Ofi and holds h and itogether. The trigger it bends downward, as shown, the end being formed into a. broad foot, which rests on the burrow of the mole.

The operation of my device is obvious. The mole, passing along his burrow, findsa depressed place under thefootof thetriggern, and seeking to raise it, the catch ris drawn away from t and the prop collapses and falls, and the spikes 0 enter the burrow, impaling the mole. I am aware of the patentto T.Brannan,July 21, 1874, No. 153,235, and 1 do not claim anything therein shown; but,

I claim as my invention The combination, with the trigger a, pivoted to the bar It, and the bar 73, supported on the.

top of the bar It by a notch near its upper end and retained in position by the trigger a, ofthe fall a, the armed end of which rests upon the top of 2', substantially as described.

WILLIAM S. HARMON.

Witnesses:

F. W. HALL, \VILLIAM SCOTT. 

